Forward facing?

stlmomma27 · December 2013

When are you planning on turning LO forward facing in the car? Ds is still rear facing and I was going to keep him that way until he was 2, but looking through the car seat manual, it is stating that he is getting close to being turned forward. We have the Graco All-in-one Smart Seat.

He would still be in the middle, but forward facing freaks me out.

Advice? When/did you make the transition?

AmySmolos · December 2013

I plan to at 2 or whenever the pedi says he's big enough. At 15 months it was still rear facing advice since he's smaller (22lbs and 31in).

stlmomma27 · December 2013

My ds is 26.4lbs and 32.5 inches. I am just not ready to have him forward-facing.

@AmySmolos

SBmomma · December 2013

My husband already turned the car seat forward. I still have him rear facing in my car.
This has been such a frustrating topic for me. My husband is so stubborn & I don't understand why he doesn't "get it"! Ya, LO is just about 30 pounds, and it was way difficult cramming LO in a rear facing seat. But I still insist in rear facing in my car.

katiejo1216 · December 2013

I am not comfortable switching to forward facing any time soon and would rather buy a new car seat that rear faces longer than switch. DS is going to be curled up in the back seat rear facing as long as I can! I know that buying a new car seat may not be a possibility for you but that is what I would try to do if you just aren't feeling ready and comfortable.

twinkletoes3126 · December 2013

I will rear face as long as he meets the height/weight requirements.

piphigirl · December 2013

LaurenAnthony2009 said:

I will rear face as long as he meets the height/weight requirements.

Us, too.

LindsayDesigner · December 2013

I won't switch her any time soon. At her 15 month check up she was still less than 20 lbs. I figure she can rear face with her little brother when he arrives in late May/early June.

austenfan919 · December 2013

DD RF'ed until 27 months. She still could have RF'ed longer in the seat we have (Cosco Scenera). I don't really remember why we switched her then, but we definitely wanted her RFing until at least 2.

With DS, since I know more about car seat stuff, I plan to have him RF until at least 2 and then until he hits the upper limits on his seat (I think 35 lbs and 36 in). If he outgrew his seat RFing before he turned 2, I would get a seat that RFed longer.

I know the Scenera is an inexpensive convertible option (around $40) if you want to switch. Cosco has a similar seat that RFs longer, too. It's the APT 40RF. It RFs to 40 lbs and 40 inches and is $60 at Walmart. I've seen it for less at KMart, too.

Just curious, what is the RF limit on your seat @reece0099?

britvahok · December 2013

I plan on rear facing until 2, our pedi is even recommending that everyone rf until 2. The thought of forward facing makes me nervous

drunkindonuts · December 2013

carolyn231723 said:
I plan to keep DS rearfacing as long as possible. It's incredibly safer than forward facing.

This!

abbyful · December 2013

We will be keeping DS rear-facing as long as possible.

binklesss · December 2013

3 is my absolute minimum. That may require replacing the Britax in DH's car, but hopefully there will be a sibling to pass the seat to.

Also, besides being within the seat's limits, height and weight don't have much, if anything, to do with the safety of rf vs. ff...skeletal maturity does, and that only comes with time/age.

stlmomma27 · December 2013

ginabina11 said:

I plan to keep DS rearfacing as long as possible. It's incredibly safer than forward facing.
This!
Ditto. At this point I'd probably buy a new seat before turning him FF

I am not buying a new car seat, this one is not even a year old. It is a convertible/all in one seat. It will grow with him until he needs a booster seat.

Tapthathank · December 2013

@reece0099 - how close is the top of his head to the top of the head support? The top of his head should be at least 1 inch below the top of the head support. Hopefully, he still has some room before you have to move him!

sosoph · December 2013

binklesss said:

3 is my absolute minimum. That may require replacing the Britax in DH's car, but hopefully there will be a sibling to pass the seat to. Also, besides being within the seat's limits, height and weight don't have much, if anything, to do with the safety of rf vs. ff...skeletal maturity does, and that only comes with time/age.

Ditto the physiology - watch your kid trip and see his head topple first to the ground becuase his neck isn't strong enough to keep his head up in a simple fall. Then imagine what would happen in a FF car accident. A new carseat to keep him RF longer is probably worth it.

SJandVA · December 2013

DD1 was turned at 14 months. But that was back in the old days of 2009. We'll keep DD2 RF until at least 2. She won't hit the height limit of the seat. DD1 is only 42 inches and almost 6.

sdlaura · December 2013

We plan to keep her RFing until at least 2. I have the Chicco NextFit in my car, which can RF up to 50 pounds, and the Evenflo we have in DH's car can RF until 40 pounds. Right now she's about 27 pounds.

austenfan919 · December 2013

annieluvsjordan said:

I am pretty sure RF only has a "1 inch from top of seat" rule rather than an actual height. Sounds like you have a tall kiddo, but I am struggling to think that you would have to turn around this early. DD was 31.5" almost two months ago and is nowhere near the top of her seat.

Anyway, I will keep her RF until at least 2y/o. We did the same with DS. After 2 I assess more of the type of traveler/trip. Long trips I may go back to RF, short I am ok with FF (after 2). The long trips have a ton more sleeping time where they are not in control of their bodies and necks.

If you are concerned take your car with the seat and DS to a car seat check station or police/fire wherever they do it and talk to them about it. They should be able to help. Or check out Car Seats for The Littles on Facebook. They review a ton of seats and are very knowledgeable.

I agree with the bolded. What did the manual say that makes you think you need to turn him soon? Is the top of his head close to the top of the head support?

I also agree that Car Seats for the Littles on FB is great. They have lots of car seat techs (and knowledgeable parents) who can answer questions. An in-person seat check would be good, too.

I think it's great you found a seat that is convertible and converts to a booster (I didn't know those existed), but if he can't RF in it until he is at least 2, I would seriously consider a cheaper convertible to use RF until he is 2 and then going back to your current seat for FF and a booster later.

austenfan919 · December 2013

Now it won't let me edit my previous comment, and the part in the original comment that I bolded didn't show up...I meant to bold the part where annieluvsjordan said she is struggling to think you would have to turn him this early. Just want to find out why you have to turn him. Maybe there's a misunderstanding we could clear up.

binklesss · December 2013

I've read (actually on the CSFTL page on FB) that the Smart Seat is not generally recommended because it does have pretty low [practical] limits in each category (RF, FF, booster). Even though it says it can accommodate kids up to 100 pounds, that's a pretty inflated weight limit given that they also have to fit within the height limits. I know it's an expensive seat (we looked at it as well) and it sucks to think of replacing something you spent that much on (I feel the same about our Britax) but chances are you'll need another one before your child is booster ready, and certainly before they can go without a booster at all, so an inexpensive seat that can also RF is probably not a bad idea and may last you longer than this one anyway. I would also highly recommend talking to some of the techs on the FB page.

alake · December 2013

I planned on rear facing DS until 4, but he is being a little terror in the car and he will go forward facing at 3 (when we move). I see an issue with this though, DD3 rear faces beside him, and would be in range of him kicking her. I need them side by side in the middle row, so I have access to my back row.
Four is my minimum usually, but every rule can be broke (especially ones I make)
I don't plan on forward facing DD3 or 4 for a very long time.

stlmomma27 · December 2013

@reece0099 - how close is the top of his head to the top of the head support? The top of his head should be at least 1 inch below the top of the head support. Hopefully, he still has some room before you have to move him!

I was looking the other day, he seems to have another 2 inches until the top.

austenfan919 · December 2013

reece0099 said:

@reece0099 - how close is the top of his head to the top of the head support? The top of his head should be at least 1 inch below the top of the head support. Hopefully, he still has some room before you have to move him!
I was looking the other day, he seems to have another 2 inches until the top.

Then you have some time to stay RF for awhile if the limit is 1 inch from the top. Maybe he can even make it to 2 RF in that seat. I am sure he will grow an inch in the next 9 months, but maybe more in his legs than his torso. Just keep an eye on it.

PaisleyRuth · December 2013

SJandVA said:
DD1 is only 42 inches and almost 6.

Wow, crazy! My son is 5 weeks from turning 3 and is just over 40 inches!

millerhomelife · December 2013

We FF. She exceeds height and weight limit.

alake · December 2013

My DD2 is rear facing in a Foonf at six, with room to spare. She has two inches to grow, before she has to be forward facing.

ShelbehhRawrr · December 2013

The carseat we got says that for her height and weight (30 lb, 35 in), that she should be front facing. Thats only the carseat in one car, in my car she's still in her rear facing carseat, I have to purchase another one though, her legs hit the back of the seat and shes not comfortable, nor is she safe in my opinion.

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